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“It tough for us to handle at times, but we challenge our kids in that locker room at halftime, and I thought they accepted the challenge, really on both ends of the floor. In these close games though, all we need is one more free throw and you’re not in some of those situations. I was proud of the plays that they made.

“With each experience in each close game, we’re going to get better. They’re handling each game better, we got some crucial stops. We played with some poise at the end of the shot clock a couple of times. When Ellen (Nystrom) made that nice turnaround jump shot, that was great poise and control. That was a huge basket, no panic what’s so ever.”

“She did a nice job on the block in that second half. We did a nice job of getting the ball in scoring position but her mentality was really good in the second half, she hit that little jump shot to start the half, and then she went to the block got herself to the foul line. We needed a senior to step up, a senior stepped up tonight so I’m really proud of how Sam played.”

(on Hawaii)

“The importance of every possession and playing with some poise. The thing that we probably learned most in Hawaii in that Chattooga game is that you can’t be careless with the ball in late game situations. Ball security, it’s important every second of the game but when it gets down to crunch time you need a positive possession and a positive possession is a good shot within the flow of the offense by the right kid. We played that way tonight. Nine turnovers tonight, is pretty impressive against a destructive, active, Loyola team. Last year we had 12 turnovers before we even scored a basket. Our kids handled every situation well tonight.”

“My teammates were getting me the ball in good places and I was able to get it in the basket. I think just working it in and getting in and out passes was key in the second half. It was a team effort.”

(on second half)

“Our shots did start falling, but we started to play more as a team. The first half we went a little individual, it’s still early on in the year and we’re going to get better at that, but in the second half we regrouped and played together as a team and that’s what really got us going.”

(on progression from last year)

“We’ve got more people that are ready to score and we got people that can handle the ball under pressure. That’s really good for us and we have a calmer effect on the floor where we’re going to get the ball, get good shots, and play defense. That’s a key for this team and definitely an improvement from last year.”

(on possible overtime)

“It’s nice to rest our legs for the quick turnaround game on Sunday after this big tournament. We’re definitely thankful, but we would have been ready to go into overtime if it came to that point.”